Wilkes Barre Development

Wilkes Barre Development

Plans are under way for a new Career Services Center at Penn State Wilkes-Barre that will provide students with comprehensive career planning and job seeking services. A major matching gift from Wilkes-Barre alumnus Richard K. "Ric" Struthers and his wife, Sharon, has jump-started the campus' fundraising effort to support the project.

The Struthers have pledged $1 million to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Their gift will match 50 percent of the cost to build and furnish the new Career Services Center, up to a total commitment of $500,000. The remainder of their commitment will be split with $250,000 going to create the Struthers Family Trustee Scholarship supporting students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre with need. The additional $250,000 will go into an endowment by the Struthers Family, annually supporting the operational expenses of the new Career Services Center.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, Penn State Wilkes-Barre honored 106 students who were awarded scholarships for the 2011-12 school year at the annual Scholarship Dinner held at Appletree Terrace. This year, Penn State Wilkes-Barre awarded 265 students approximately $730,000 in scholarships.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre has received one of the largest scholarship gifts in its history from two of the University's most generous supporters, Rick and Sue Barry. The $1 million commitment from the San Rafael, Calif., couple to establish the Rick and Sue Barry Trustee Scholarship will leverage matching funds from Penn State and help more than 30 students with financial need each year.